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Ryan lays foundation stones for Antrim’s rise

County can build on recent progress against Westmeath today

WHEN Kevin Ryan became Antrim manager last September, his appointment echoed his ambition. Ryan was prepared to make the 440-mile round trip from Waterford because he knew, from having managed against them, that Antrim were massively underachieving. His personal ambition also had a deeper meaning. Ryan stated that he always had “a passion” for Antrim hurling.

That had stemmed from his time attending coaching courses in the county in the mid-1980s to his involvement with Antrim players on the Hurling-Shinty internationals. Ryan was realistic to realise the challenges that came with the job but he had first-hand experience after having managed Carlow over the previous four seasons.

Passion, though, is often jilted by apathy, ambition and eroded by indifference. Ryan had originally spoken about the need to build “confidence and belief” but those qualities could only be restored and fostered through commitment. Morale was on the floor after last year’s